Port Moody Ribfest is a three-day community festival that features live music, family-friendly activities and barbecued ribs in Rocky Point Park in Port Moody.
In 2024 the event takes place on the Friday, Saturday and Sunday of July 19th to 21st. It’s a fabulous event, and admission is by donation (with funds raised benefiting great causes).
For the event’s official website, visit portmoodyribfest.ca.
This article contains the following information about Port Moody Ribfest:
Where? | When? | Activities | Tips & Advice | About Rotary | Other Information
Ribfest Festival in Port Moody
Hosted by the Rotary Club of Port Moody, Ribfest is a free event that takes place in July each year.
In most years as many as 40,000 people attend the festival over the course of the weekend. That number is greater than the entire population of Port Moody! Ribfest is a fundraising event benefiting charitable projects. Up to around $100,000 is raised each year.
Take your friends, family and appetites, and check it out!
Click portmoodyribfest.ca for the event’s official website.
Where is Port Moody Ribfest?
Port Moody Rotary Ribfest takes place at Rocky Point Park which is located at 2800 Murray Street in Port Moody, a beautiful town of 34,000 people just east of both Vancouver and Burnaby. For such a small community, Port Moody Ribfest is an impressive event and at a wonderful venue.
Rocky Point Park is a beautiful park on the waterfront with a pier, community stage, walking trails, outdoor swimming pool, and first-class children’s playground and waterpark.
When is Port Moody Ribfest?
Port Moody Rotary Ribfest usually takes place on the second-to-last weekend in July.
In 2024 it happens on July 19th to 21st. Admission is by donation and activities run from 11:00 am until about 9:00 pm on all three days.
Click portmoodyribfest.ca for the event’s official website.
Ribfest Activities
At Port Moody Rotary Ribfest there is live music and lots of barbecued food for sale. There are also usually craft breweries on-site, a Family Zone and various forms of family entertainment.
Ribfest Concerts
Port Moody Ribfest features free live music on all three days of the festival. Below is the live music schedule for 2024. (Note: Times and performer details are subject to change.)
Friday, July 19th, 2024
- 12:00 pm – Chapter II
- 1:45 pm – Los Meatballs
- 3:30 pm – Trigger Mafia
- 5:15 pm – Pop Junkies
- 7:00 pm – Truly Tina
- 8:00 pm – Feelin’ Alright
Saturday, July 20th, 2024
- 11:00 am – Harris & DeBray
- 12:30 pm – Hickelstock
- 2:15 pm – Steve Sainas Trio
- 4:00 pm – Blue Collar Overdrive
- 5:45 pm – Bad Medicine
- 7:30 pm – Bad Moon Riders
Sunday, July 21st, 2024
- 11:00 am – Nun the Wizer
- 12:30 pm – The Heartland Levy Band
- 3:00 pm – Gift Shop
- 4:45 pm – Jason Lane Band
- 6:45 pm – Soulstream
Click portmoodyribfest.ca for the event’s official website.
BBQs, Food and Beverages
Being a “Ribfest,” a major part of the Port Moody event is the food. A variety of BBQ vendors serve beef ribs, barbecued chicken, corn on the cob and other tasty items.
World-famous barbecue vendors at Port Moody Ribfest typically include the following:
- Rusty’s BBQ – a local, Port Moody company
- Smoke Dem Bones – from Penticton
- Boss Hog’s – a London Ontario-based rib vendor
- Prairie Smoke & Spice – from Winnipeg (and 14-time Grand Champion winner)
- Grizzly BBQ – from Greater Victoria on Vancouver Island
- Pit Crew BBQ – participating at Port Moody Ribfest for the first time (and coming all the way from the Maritimes)
- Gator BBQ – from Port Dover Ontario
In addition to the above vendors specializing in barbecued meats, at the event there is also a vegetarian food truck.
The biggest challenge at Port Moody Ribfest is deciding which vendor to get your ribs from! The second biggest challenge is choosing which craft beer to wash it down with (or root beer for the kids)!
Family Zone
Port Moody Ribfest is definitely a family-friendly event. There is something for everyone, including for children at the Family Zone.
In the Family Zone you will likely find things like miniature golf, a climbing wall, puppet show and more. Plus, if that’s not enough, right in Rocky Point Park is one of the Lower Mainland’s best outdoor children’s playgrounds and water parks, as well as an outdoor swimming pool.
Kids, don’t forget your swimsuits! Also, don’t forget to point out to your parents the Rocky Point Ice Cream Store that’s located close by!
Tips & Advice
Below are some tips and advice on how to make your visit to Port Moody Ribfest as pleasant as possible.
Suggestions for Getting There
TIP #1: Take public transit if you can as parking on the day can be insane. If you can’t, another option is to put your bikes on the back of your car and then cycle part way to the venue (including from far away along the beautiful, forested paths). An alternative option is to wear good shoes and just plan to walk a fair ways.
TIP #2: If you must take a vehicle, go early to improve your chances of finding a spot. There is a bit of parking available for early birds at Rocky Point Park, at the Port Moody Soccer Field on Murray Street just east of the park, and at Port Moody’s West Coast Express Train Station.
TIP #3: You might also find parking at the Community Recreation Complex at 300 Ioco Road in town (although you might not technically be allowed to park there). Otherwise, try your luck wherever you can find it, but be sure wherever you park is a permitted place and not limited to too short of a time.
TIP #4: Another transportation option is to take a taxi or Uber, either from your home or from a place you can get to close by (like the train station). It might be challenging finding a ride back however, depending on when you leave.
TIP #5: Some years Port Moody Ribfest offers a safe ride home service between 6:30 pm and 9:30 pm. Ask your server at one of the craft breweries or an on-site security person for details.
Other Tips
TIP #1: Rocky Point Park is a beautiful park to visit any time of the year. While you’re already there for Ribfest, take some time to explore. Also, return another day when it’s a little less crowded.
TIP #2: On hot days kids will love the playground, water park and outdoor swimming pool. The walking and cycling trails are beautiful and go on for miles. The pier is also very pleasant for a short stroll out into the water.
TIP #3: And finally, if you like outdoor live music, go back any Sunday in July or August for Summer Sundays when they have a free outdoor concert in the park.
Important Notes
- ACCESSIBILITY: Port Moody Ribfest is fairly stroller and wheelchair accessible. Just be patient getting around, however, as there will be thousands of people. There are a lot of lawns (which aren’t easy to get around on after a heavy rainfall), but there are also lots of paved pathways throughout Rocky Point Park.
- PET POLICY: Only on-duty service dogs are welcome at Port Moody Ribfest. Other pets are not allowed. That’s okay though as Fido will probably appreciate being left at home anyway as he’ll likely hate the crowds and go insane with all the tantalizing BBQ smells!
About Rotary
Rotary International is a volunteer service organization with members around the world. The Rotary Club of Port Moody is one of many Rotary clubs comprised of professionals, business people and folks who want to make a difference in their community.
The Rotary Club of Port Moody meets for breakfast on Wednesday at 7:15 am at St. James’s Well Pub in Newport Village at 248 Newport Drive in Port Moody.
Another fundraising event put on by the same organization is Search for the Perfect Pint which is a beer-tasting event at Port Moody’s City Hall. It too is a fundraising event.
For more information on the fundraising group behind Port Moody Ribfest, see the Rotary Club of Port Moody website. It’s an exceptional organization to be a part of.
Other Information
For more information on the July event at Rocky Point Park, see the Port Moody Rotary Ribfest website.
To learn more about the venue and surrounding area, click Rocky Point Park or Port Moody.
For ideas on other things to do this same weekend or at other times this month, see Vancouver’s July Calendar.
For a list of other major events throughout the year in the Lower Mainland, click the Festivals & Events Calendar.
Events hosted by other Lower Mainland Rotary Clubs include the following:
- Search for the Perfect Pint – a beer-themed event in Port Moody.
- Rotary Ride for Rescue – a bike race up Cypress Mountain that raises money for North Shore Rescue.
- North Vancouver Canada Day Celebrations – an event on July 1st on the North Shore.
- Langley Ribfest – a barbecue-themed community event in the summer.
- Chilliwack Ribfest – another barbecue-themed event in the summer.
- Mission Ribfest – rib vendors, food trucks and live entertainment at a park in the summer.
- Rotary Ride for Hearing – a cycling ride that benefits people who are deaf and hard of hearing in BC.
- White Rock Polar Bear Swim – a January 1st icy swim in the ocean on New Year’s Day.
